Prius left on all night

terkar · 07-29-2009, 11:46 AM

Dumb? of course, but it happened. Question is will this have any affect on the engine or hybrid components?

When I got into the car in the am it was still on. Battery low but not gone - expect the engine cycled on and off all night.

Anybody else done this? Any damage to car?

Politburo · 07-29-2009, 11:57 AM

Others have done it (mainly for running the A/C while sleeping.. or perhaps while using the Prius as a generator). No damage as long as you don't run out of fuel.

a priori · 07-29-2009, 12:33 PM

Plenty of others have done this simply by forgetting to turn the car off. Yes, I know it takes some effort to intentionally ignore the car's beeping at you, but it can be done. (Believe me

)

There is no harm to the HSD or any part of the vehicle. The only real dangers are CO build-up (if this happens in a closed space) and running out of fuel. If you do the latter, you likely will run your HV battery "dry" and that could be expensive.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-29-2009, 01:28 PM

At car shows, people leave their Prius [ON] all day. It's essentially the same thing. Like you said, the battery gets drained and the ICE cycles on/off to recharge it.

No harm, no foul.

David Beale · 07-29-2009, 05:06 PM

Even if you left the car on and it ran out of fuel, the traction battery would not "run dry". The car will shut off automatically once the charge level gets too low. It can still re-start a refueled engine -several times- (as in 5-10 times).

But don't get into the habit of doing this. You DO run the risk of reversing a cell in an older battery. THAT will render the battery a "lamp lighter" as in the triangle !, and would eventually result in a replacement of the traction battery.

The worst part of this is it would validate the morons who claim the Prius will break their owners with battery replacement issues.

terkar · 07-30-2009, 08:55 AM

Thanks to all - Guess I will take this off my things to worry about list.

richard schumacher · 07-30-2009, 06:18 PM

Always lock the car. If it's not OFF it will give a long warning beep.

terkar · 07-31-2009, 08:31 AM

Sounds good for some models but my 2004 (the first one in the Hendersonville, NC area) requires the engine to be off before removing the fob to lock the car.

snead_c · 07-31-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

At car shows, people leave their Prius [ON] all day. It's essentially the same thing. Like you said, the battery gets drained and the ICE cycles on/off to recharge it.

No harm, no foul.

...and your MPG makes you eligible for a "clunker rebate"

07-29-2009, 11:46 AM	#1
terkar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hendersonville, NC Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Prius left on all night Dumb? of course, but it happened. Question is will this have any affect on the engine or hybrid components? When I got into the car in the am it was still on. Battery low but not gone - expect the engine cycled on and off all night. Anybody else done this? Any damage to car?

07-29-2009, 11:57 AM	#2
Politburo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 192 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 36 Times in 22 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius left on all night Others have done it (mainly for running the A/C while sleeping.. or perhaps while using the Prius as a generator). No damage as long as you don't run out of fuel.

07-29-2009, 12:33 PM	#3
a priori Canonus Curiosus Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland (West) Posts: 2,663 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 150 Thanked 297 Times in 181 Posts Friends: 18	Re: Prius left on all night Plenty of others have done this simply by forgetting to turn the car off. Yes, I know it takes some effort to intentionally ignore the car's beeping at you, but it can be done. (Believe me) There is no harm to the HSD or any part of the vehicle. The only real dangers are CO build-up (if this happens in a closed space) and running out of fuel. If you do the latter, you likely will run your HV battery "dry" and that could be expensive.

07-29-2009, 01:28 PM	#4
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,500 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Prius left on all night At car shows, people leave their Prius [ON] all day. It's essentially the same thing. Like you said, the battery gets drained and the ICE cycles on/off to recharge it. No harm, no foul.

07-29-2009, 05:06 PM	#5
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 2,116 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 3 Thanked 77 Times in 58 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius left on all night Even if you left the car on and it ran out of fuel, the traction battery would not "run dry". The car will shut off automatically once the charge level gets too low. It can still re-start a refueled engine -several times- (as in 5-10 times). But don't get into the habit of doing this. You DO run the risk of reversing a cell in an older battery. THAT will render the battery a "lamp lighter" as in the triangle !, and would eventually result in a replacement of the traction battery. The worst part of this is it would validate the morons who claim the Prius will break their owners with battery replacement issues. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

07-30-2009, 08:55 AM	#6
terkar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hendersonville, NC Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius left on all night Thanks to all - Guess I will take this off my things to worry about list.

07-30-2009, 06:18 PM	#7
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,510 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius left on all night Always lock the car. If it's not OFF it will give a long warning beep.

07-31-2009, 08:31 AM	#8
terkar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hendersonville, NC Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius left on all night Sounds good for some models but my 2004 (the first one in the Hendersonville, NC area) requires the engine to be off before removing the fob to lock the car.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Prius left "on" all night	montenido	Gen II Prius Main Forum	10	01-23-2008 07:06 PM
left prius on all night	priusism	Gen II Prius Main Forum	9	01-21-2008 07:26 PM
Got my Prius last night	anonjedi	Gen II Prius Main Forum	10	03-23-2006 11:27 AM
AVI of Me Driving My Prius at Night	Mystery Squid	Gen II Prius Main Forum	5	02-03-2006 10:36 PM